California Code of Civil Procedure ARTICLE 3 - Actions

• Section 116.310.
  (a) No formal pleading, other than the claim described in Section 116.320 or 116.360, is necessary to initiate a small claims action.(b) The pretrial discovery procedures described...
• Section 116.320.
  (a) A plaintiff may commence an action in the small claims court by filing a claim under oath with the clerk of the small claims court...
• Section 116.330.
  (a) When a claim is filed, the clerk shall schedule the case for hearing and shall issue an order directing the parties to appear at the...
• Section 116.340.
  (a) Service of the claim and order on the defendant may be made by any one of the following methods:(1) The clerk may cause a copy of...
• Section 116.360.
  (a) The defendant may file a claim against the plaintiff in the same action in an amount not to exceed the jurisdictional limits stated in Sections...
• Section 116.370.
  (a) Venue and court location requirements in small claims actions shall be the same as in other civil actions. The court may prescribe by local rule...
• Section 116.390.
  (a) If a defendant has a claim against a plaintiff that exceeds the jurisdictional limits stated in Sections 116.220, 116.221, and 116.231, and the claim relates...

Last modified: October 22, 2018